However, Nkana proved inspired urged on by their powerful 12th man in the stands. But that did not deter Zesco’s resolve who took a 2-0 lead in the opening 20 minutes despite the pressure from Nkana.

Jesse Were converted a 4th minute penalty after Lazarus Kambole was brought down in the box. Dave Daka then opened his account for Zesco in the 20th minute following his offseason move from Zanaco.

Daka made a muzzy run on the left leaving Nkana’s defenders in his wake before planting the ball into the back of the net from an acute angle.Nkana, though,hit back in the 32nd minute through Ronald Kampamba, who chipped the ball over goalkeeper Jacob Banda to see the two sides go 2-1 into the break.

Zesco then spent the second half trying to mop-up against an inspired Nkana and they were breached with ten minutes left on the clock when Ronald Chibwe sneaked through the defence after collecting a clever pass from Jacob Ngulube to earn a point for the Kitwe side. - Additional reporting by Zesco United website.